Free Monthly #37 Kirk & Evervine (3)
Part of the Community Fiction Series of Short Stories!
Introduction
One of the on and off series I’ve been thinking about and writing down ideas for is what I’ll describe (for now) as “utopian”. Utopian in the sense that the society has “figured out how to remain civil” while still having strife and adversity to keep humanity progressing towards perfection. Take that as you will.
This is a direct continuation of an earlier short story and by clicking here, you can view previous short stories.
Community Fiction | Kirk & Evervine (Community 4)
3: Sunset
Aaron Bob arrived a few minutes after Kirk at the foot of the monastery’s steps. They walked in together as the sun slowly ebbed into its mountainous oblivion. The reception desk was empty and beside it stood Abbot Stuart. His brown attire blended well with the desk, causing Kirk to miss the old man at first glance. Aaron Bob didn’t miss him.
“How ya doing, sir?”
“I am well, my son. How are you holding up?”
“Couldn’t be happier.”
“That is good to hear. Are you here for a meeting?”
“I’m with him.” Aaron Bob gestured.
For his part, Kirk smiled awkwardly and shrugged. “I, uh, met him during lunch and he wanted to see the sunset.”
“Ah.” Abbot Stuart was silent for several seconds. When Kirk was about to apologize to both men, the abbot spoke, “More company is always a good thing to have.”
With that, the elderly man turned and strode through the monastery, leading Aaron Bob and Kirk to the observation deck stairs. Aaron Bob frowned but said nothing as they passed the elevator. The swiftness of Abbot Stuart surprised Kirk despite having followed him earlier in the day. Kirk imagined, like himself, the abbot would move slower in the evening. It seemed the abbot’s energy was unrelenting as they began their ascent.
“Forgive my pondering aloud, for I have something on my mind I wish to voice,” Abbot Stuart began as he turned at the first landing. Kirk glimpsed warmth in his eyes. “I have realized many times there is a golden axiom we mortals often forget.”
“What’s that?” Kirk asked from the rear.
“We need meaning in our lives and in the work we do. To rebuild meaning in a society, the sum of its parts must have meaning.”
“Do we not have meaning now?”
“Nihilistic and degrading ideologies are devoid of any meaning. What little there might be is corrupted by ungodliness.”
Kirk thought for a moment, hoping Aaron Bob would join in but when it seemed he was content with listening Kirk answered, “Meaning implies a sense of purpose, value in the day to day. Some find value in what others find unsavory. That’s why our society is so decentralized. We must tolerate and empower those with differing beliefs—differing purposes—to pursue their ends.”
“True, though the fleeting meaning one might gain from earthly matters is not only unsustainable but unfulfilling. To be ruled by such meaning is to flit from one transient thing to another, sometimes many at once. I have my treasure in heaven, and I continue my life’s task in pursuit of being worthy of that treasure.”
“Spiritual fulfillment and a layman’s—or average Joe’s—fulfillment in life may be companions to one another. That’s why I believe one can serve their god and write and fulfill both their spiritual and earthly purposes.”
“Ah, you touch on the very idea I have. We must cast away all thoughts, and the systems of thoughts we call ideologies, which deter society from agreeing where to place the cornerstone for the next generation to build upon.”
Abbot Stuart’s pace remained unchanged and his words were finely hewn. Kirk’s reply came winded as he kept up. “Until the majority can compromise upon pragmatic and grounded solutions to society’s problems, I see no way for the agoras to agree on this metaphorical cornerstone. We differ in too many ways and no amount of preaching or soliciting will break this fact as no one will give ground. Traditions are the utmost folly, except maybe conservation of nature. Everything else must progress. Our society has progressed towards atomization to mitigate conflict. That isn’t possible with Christianity.”
They reached the observation deck a moment later. Aaron Bob looked around for a few seconds. With a sigh, he joined the conversation at last, “Ya have to respect elders—honor them above all. But then ya must understand the youth are our highest priority. We must satisfy them through societal change. Without the youth,” He shook his head and looked at the abbot, “a society’s institutions collapse. It’s our duty to bridge the traditional values that give lasting meaning with the progression of humanity, ya know?”
“An insightful thought worth pondering. This way, my sons.” Abbot Stuart led them across to the belfry staircase. “There is a maintenance passageway near the bell, which opens beautifully to the west.”
Ten steps from the top, Abbot Stuart paused and slid back a gate to a rounded door Kirk hadn’t noticed earlier. He slid a key in and lifted. The door swung outward, revealing a grated metal walkway. The abbot and Aaron Bob stepped out to the right. Kirk shut the door after exiting and led the way, as there wasn’t room for the abbot to lead.
“Here we are.” Abbot Stuart spoke as Kirk came to the first landing. “We don’t need to go further as we are looking due west.”
Kirk surveyed the landscape, with the sun barely above the mountains in the distance. The picturesque scene made Kirk feel small. He’d never seen something so large and empty and so wonderfully beautiful in his life. Railing and pillars blocked the views from the observation deck, but here, there were no obstructions from Evervine or the Monastery of Saint’s Reverence. Only nature in all the colors of evening. The purples bridging the blue and the red as sunset approached, the long shadows and breeze billowing across the land, the jagged mountains turning from rocky tops surrounded by foliage to dark outlines holding back the light of day…
As they stood and watched the sun set on the horizon, Kirk felt the loving embrace of its rays slip away. It was all too perfect for Kirk and tears welled in his eyes. Before they grew large enough to trickle down his cheek, the sun was gone and only the shadows of day remained before him. The rainbow of color in the sky retreated with the sun and with it the warmth of the day. After a long time, Kirk remembered he was standing near the top of a service walkway with companions.
“Thank you.” Aaron Bob said quietly. “I didn’t know ya could have something so precious tucked away like this. It’s everything I imagined and more.”
“I come here, once a week, to remind myself that my life’s task is incomplete.” Abbot Stuart’s eyes grew sorrowful.
“What’s that, if I may?”
“My son.” Abbot Stuart turned to Aaron Bob and sighs. “My son. I seek to bring one more to the Kingdom of God each and every day.”
“Do you succeed?” Kirk asked hesitantly.
Abbot Stuart pursed his lips. “Not every day, and I pray God might forgive me for my sin.”
To Be Finished Next Month!
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